Ray Dolby (1933-2013)

The Master and Fellows of Pembroke are immensely saddened to learn of the death of Dr Ray Dolby on 12th September, 2013, in San Francisco. A brilliant scientist, Dr Dolby came to Pembroke from Stanford University as a Marshall Scholar in 1957 to pursue a PhD where he worked on the microanalysis of materials, by recording and analysing the secondary X-rays generated when a focussed electron beam is scanned over the sample surface. In 1960 he was elected to the Fellowship as the then Drapers' Senior Research Student, and became the Drapers' Research Fellow after he received his PhD in 1961. Dr Dolby left the Fellowship in March 1963, founding Dolby Laboratories in 1965, but always remembered the influence of his years in Cambridge. He remained a wise friend to the Fellowship, a close and generous supporter of the College, and an inspiration to generations of Pembroke research students throughout his life. He was elected an Honorary Fellow in 1983.